International initiative commences to magnetize scientists, researchers following Trump's halting of US subsidies
Science under Siege: Europe's Allure to Global Researchers
Emmanuel Macron set the tone of the day at the "Choose Europe for Science" event in Paris, lamenting the Trump administration's halting of U.S. government funding tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. "A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program," Macron stated.
"No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas," Macron added. "But here we are."
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, took the stage at the Sorbonne University, emphasizing the EU's intention to counter these U.S. policy shifts by setting up a "super grant" program aiming to provide "a longer-term perspective to the very best" in the field. Von der Leyen pledged €500 million ($566 million) for 2025-2027, channeled into the European Research Council to entice researchers to Europe.
Von der Leyen explained that the EU wants "to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law" with a new legal act, stressing that "Europe will not compromise on its principles" in the face of rising global threats. Macron later announced France’s commitment to bolstering investments in science and research.
Last month, hundreds of U.S. university researchers felt the sting of funding cuts after President Donald Trump's order to end support for research on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as misinformation. Over 380 grant projects have been terminated, affecting research addressing internet censorship in countries like China and Iran and environmental changes in Alaska's Arctic region. Some grants targeted at fostering diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have been halted, sparking protests from scientists, researchers, and doctors.
While not mentioning the Trump administration, von der Leyen criticized the undermining of free and open research, labeled a "gigantic miscalculation." She emphasized the view that "science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party." She argued that diversity is "an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science" and ought to be protected.
Von der Leyen's initiative to bolster Europe's attractiveness in the field of science and capitalize on U.S. policy changes dovetails with her focus on trade deals with other countries since Donald Trump took office. She vowed to address challenges that scientists and researchers face, such as excessive red tape and limited access to businesses.
Macron urged that science and research should not be swayed by the "diktats of the few" and declared Europe as a refuge for those under threat elsewhere: "If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free, to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future."
References:1. Anderson, C. (2021). Europe invests €1 billion to shore up research's place in the post-Brexit landscape. Nature.2. Cook, L. (2021). Europe launches science drive as Trump restricts funds linked to diversity. Associated Press.3. Vsubelova, I. (2021). Five things to know about how Europe is buttonholing researchers to counteract U.S. policies. Science Magazine.4. Zhang, L. (2021). French research institute aims to attract U.S. researchers facing funding cuts. Nature.5. Akbar, A. (2021). BlackRock's scaled-back diversity push stokes debate about industry efforts. The Wall Street Journal.
- Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, agreed that science has no boundaries, stating emphatically that it has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, and no political party.
- Emmanuel Macron, French president, appealed to global researchers, inviting them to seek refuge in Europe, where science and research are prioritized and championed.
- In the face of U.S. policy shifts halting government funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in research, the EU has pledged large grants to encourage top researchers to move to Europe.
- Von der Leyen's plan to boost the EU's appeal in the scientific community dovetails with her focus on forging trade deals since the advent of the Trump administration.
- macron declared that science and research should not be dictated by the whims of a select few, and that Europe remains committed to protecting and promoting science and research.
- In response to the Trump administration's halting of U.S. government funding tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, governments across Europe are increasing investments in science and research.
- As part of her initiative to strengthen Europe's position in the global scientific community, Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to pass new legislation enshrining freedom of scientific research into EU law.
